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Readers Workshop Daily Plan

1. Mini-Lesson Focus: Interactive Read-Aloud: Making Connections

Anchor Standard 1: Read closely to determine what the text says explicitly and to make logical inferences from it; cite specific textual evidence when writing or speaking to support conclusions drawn from the text. EQ: How does making connections help me better understand what I am reading?

The Relatives Came: Introduce this lesson by saying, “Relatives are family members. Sometimes they live with us and sometimes they don’t. Are some of you lucky enough to have grandparents? Do any of you have aunts, uncles, or cousins? Do you get to visit them or have them come to visit you? Turn to your partner and tell each other about a visit with your relatives.” Look at the title page of the book, The Relatives Came by Cynthia Rylant. Say, “I am already making connections to this book. Looking at these suitcases and sleeping bags and boxes reminds me of what it was like when my husband and I took our kids on a trip. We had so much stuff we had to pil some of it on top of the car! Read the first and second page of the text. “Look at their car. This looks like our car when we had to put things on top. I am also connecting to how much work it is to get ready to go on a trip. I am also making a connection to the food they took. They had a cooler of drinks, crackers, and sandwiches. When we go on a long trip we take snacks as well. Turn to your partner and talk about a time when you went somewhere and had to ride in a car for a long time. What things did you pack? Did you take snacks? Share your connections.” Read to where it says you would have to go through at least four hugs to get through the kitchen. “This part brings lots of connections for me too. Look at the people on the porch and in the windows. I remember when I was little and our relatives came over. They even messed up my hair! I am also remembering at holiday times, when the house was so full there was nowhere to sit and there was so much noise. It was kind of crazy! It would be hard to be in a place where it was that busy for a long time. Turn to your partner and think about a place you have been that was full of people. Can you make a connection here?” Read to “All that new breathing in the house. “Have you ever tried to go to sleep in a strange place or with extra people in your room? Turn to your partner and talk about any connection you have with this idea.” Continue to the end of the book. Pause occasionally to give partners time to make connections and share them.

Reflection: “Connections are important when they help us understand a story better. I am thinking about the connections I made and which ones helped me understand this story. I think the most important connections I made were the ones about having a house full of people with the noise and the food and all of the action. It helped me realize what it would have been like to have relatives stay for a really long time. Turn to your partner and talk about the connections you have made. Think about which connections helped you understand the story better. Think together about which connections are important.”

Connect to Writing: Have students use the making connections (click here) graphic organizer to record connections while reading. These connections can be made into narrative writings or drawings.

Troup County Schools 2013

Interactive Read-Alouds

The Relatives Came